Liberty is being free from the things we don't like in order to be slaves of the things we do like.--Ernest Benn

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Spring Training Is Over

Twilight Spring training is over almost as soon as it began this year. Because of Harbor conditions, all we got was tonight's race. We made the most of it.

Trophy Wife is on the 5-week disabled list with a broken wrist. Spinnaker Maestro has been restricted from heavy-lifting. Now he's bowman coach and back-up helmsman. Incredibly critical, because there are only two people in the Western World who understand Das Boot's chute set-up and one of them is owning a competing boat. To replace him, we've brought up a rookie from the minor leagues, J-Man. Based upon his performance tonight, I'm very hopeful that he's staying up with us longer than just for a cup of coffee.
Tonight we had 15 knots to start with. Kelp Island appeared to be erased by recent storms and we were one of only two to discover that. Going into the beach on the weather mark, things looked very hopeful. But there are some fast boats new to our fleet, particularly, a J-100. So Das Boot found her accustomed position, at the tail end of the front half of the fleet. Mistakes were only made on a spinnaker dousing. Skipper error in assigning tasks.

Sozadee CA

Sozadee is a state of mind. It was discovered (or founded) many years ago on a hot August afternoon's sail out of Newport Beach. There was no wind (at least any stronger than the current) and a burning, glaring sun. The limp sails afforded no shade. All aboard knew the outboard was questionable. The ice on the beer was melting and discussion was skirting the issue of sunstroke. Suddenly, the word "Sozadee" was uttered, the breeze returned, and all was well.

Weather

Sailing is not the Answer. Sailing is the Question. "Yes" is the answer!

Olin Stephens II

"...increasing age has brought with it a loss of agility as well as less tolerance of discomfort, and my active enjoyment of sailing has become less. Reluctantly I admit today that the important place in my life once occupied by sailing has been replaced by a computer."